Conveyor for handling fragile containers in spray cleaning apparatus



H. E. HUDDLE 3,291,143 CONVEYOR FOR HANDLING FRAGILE CONTAINERS IN SPRAYCLEANING APPARATUS Dec. 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. '7, 1965INVENTOR HARLEY E. Hummus,

ATTORNEYS- Dec. 13, 1966 H HUDDLE 3,291,143 CONVEYOR FOR HANDLINGFRAGILE CONTAINERS IN SPRAY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HARLEY E. HuooLE,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,291,143 CONVEYOR FOR HANDLING FRAGILECON- TAINERS IN SPRAY CLEANING APPARA- TUS Harley E. Huddle, CincinnatiCleaning & Finishing Machinery Co., 3280 Hageman St., Cincinnati, OhioFiled Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 424,020 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-68) Thisinvention relates to apparatus for cleaning containers and similararticles, and has to do more particular- 1 y with equipment adapted tothoroughly clean extremely lightweight and relatively fragile containersas the containers are conveyed through a tunnel wherein they aresubjected to a series of spray washing and rinsing operations followedby a drying operation so that the containers are discharged from thetunnel in cleaned and dried condition.

Lightweight containers, such as those formed from drawn aluminum,present particular problems in that they cannot be handled employingconventional conveying and guiding mechanism which makes positivephysical contact with the containers. For example, a drawn aluminum beercan initially comprising a cylindrical body closed at one end will weighon the average slightly less than threequarters of an ounce. Such cans,due to their light weight, are readily susceptible to being blown aboutand knocked over by the sprays which are employed to perform thecleaning and rinsing operations. However, if conventional mechanicalgripping fingers or hold-down means are employed to retain the cans inproper position, such means will dent or otherwise damage the relativelyfragile edges and Wall surfaces of the cans.

In a co-pending application in the names of Harley E. Huddle and VernonBaldwin, Serial Number 345,467, filed February 7, 1964 and entitledConveyor Type Cleaning Device for Fragile Containers and the Like thereis taught a cleaning device for fragile containers which embodies anovel spray nozzle design and arrangement wherein the washing andrinsing sprays themselves act as a hydrostatic hold-down effective tomaintain the containers in proper position without the use of mechanicalhold-downs, guide fingers, or the like. While such equipment has provento be highly effective, the hydrostatic hold-down principle imposeslimitations on the speed at which the equipment can be reliablyoperated. This is particularly true in the leading section of theequipment wherein the initial washing operation takes place. Since suchcontainers require an exceptionally thorough cleansing due to the dirtyresidue which results from their formation, whether it be a drawingoperation or otherwise, it has been found that such heavy dirt can bebest removed by employing high velocity sprays in the washing station,particularly as to those sprays which impinge upon the inside surfacesof the containers. The use of a higher velocity spray impinging againstthe inner surfaces of the containers upsets the hydrostatic balance ofthe sprays in accordance with the teachings of the aforementionedco-pending application, thereby losing the hold-down effect. If thevelocities of both the top and bottom sprays are materially increased,it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the proper balance betweenthe sprays and again the hydrostatic holddown is lost.

In accordance with the instant invention, the aforementioneddifficulties are overcome by providing a moving conveyor traveling abovethe tops of the containers being cleaned, with the high velocity spraysunderlying the inverted containers arranged to lift the containersupwardly so that the uppermost ends of the inverted containers con tactthe overlying conveyor and are caused to advance through the tunnel byreason of their contact with the overlying conveyor.

3,291,143 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 A principal object of the instantinvention is the provision of spray cleaning apparatus wherein thecontainers to be cleaned are initially placed in inverted condition on alower traveling conveyor and wherein an upper conveyor moving in timedrelation to the lower conveyor is positioned to overlie the uppermostends of the containers, the upper conveyor being spaced upwardly by ashort distance from the containers so as to be normally free fromphysical contact therewith. The conveyors are of perforate character anda plurality of spray heads are mounted beneath the lower conveyor so asto direct sprays of cleaning solution upwardly through the conveyor forcontact with the inner surfaces of the containers, such sprays servingto lift the containers from the lower conveyor and cause their uppermostends to contact the overlying conveyor.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of spraycleaning apparatus of the character described wherein co-acting sets ofspray heads overlie the upper conveyor and are arranged to direct spraysof cleaning solution downwardly through the upper conveyor onto theexterior surfaces of the containers, the upper sprays preferably beingof insuflicient magnitude and velocity to overcome the force of thelower sprays acting to hold the containers against the upper conveyor.

The foregoing together with other objects of the instant invention whichwill appear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled workerin the art upon reading this specification, are accomplished by thatconstruction and arrangement of parts of which an exemplary embodimentshall now be described.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of cleaning apparatus embodying theinstant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE3.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along theirregular line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar toFIGURE 2 illustrating the manner in which the lower sprays lift theinverted containers into contact with the upper conveyor.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalview taken along the line 55of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the right end ofFIGURE 3 illustrating a simplified means for driving the upper and lowerconveyors in synchronism.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1indicates a tunnel-like cleaning machine housing enclosing a pluralityof individual processing stations at which the various cleaningoperations take place. The containers to be cleaned, which are indicatedat 2, are placed in inverted position on the leading end of acontinuously moving lower conveyor 3 which advances the containersthrough a series of processing stations for ultimate discharge at thetrailing end of the conveyor, which is indicated at 4. As the containerspass through the machine they are subjected to various cleaning andrinsing operations and are ultimately dried. The number of washing andrinsing stations may vary depending upon the nature of the containersbeing cleaned and the degree of cleanliness desired. A typicalnon-limiting example is illustrated wherein the containers are subjectedto an initial washing operation at station A, a first rinsing operationat station B, a second washing operation at station C, which in someinstances comprises an acid wash, followed by a second rinsing station Dwhich may incorporate a deionizing rinse. The Washing and rinsingstations are followed by a drying section E in which the containers areusually subjected to currents of heated air which serve to completelydry them. In accordance with the teachings of the aforesaid co-pendingapplication, drain and blow-ofl stations may be interposed betweensuccessive wash and rinse stations if so desired.

In accordance with the instant invention, an upper conveyor 5 isprovided in at least the leading washing station A, the upper conveyor 5being driven in timed relation to the lower conveyor 3.

The conveyors 3 and 5 are of open mesh construction, preferably beingformed of articulated U-shaped links which are of known character andreadily permit the sprays to pass therethrough. As possibly best seen inFIGURE 2, the lower conveyor 3 passes around a leading sprocket assembly6 having a shaft 7 with its upper flight 3a traveling horizontallythrough the machine in the direction of the arrow A. The upper conveyor5 is suspended from an adjustable mounting bracket 8 by means of whichit may be raised and lowered, the bracket 8 mounting a leading sprocketassembly 9 having a driving shaft 10, and a trailing sprocket assembly11, the lower flight 5a of the upper conveyor extending parallel to theflight 3a of the lower conveyor and also moving in the direction of thearrow A.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sprocket assembly 6 isactually composed of a series of spaced apart sprockets, such as thesprocket 6a, 6b and 60 extending along the shaft 7, the sprockets havingenlarged teeth 12 which engage in the openings 13 in the conveyor. Whilethe upper sprocket assembly 9 may be of similar construction, in apreferred embodiment of the invention it comprises a cylindrical centerportion 14 mounted on shaft 10, together with outlying sprockets 15 and16 having teeth 17 which engage the openings in the conveyor. Thisconstruction has been found preferable in that it facilitatesmaintaining the upper conveyor in taut condition; and to this end itwill be understood that the leading and trailing sprocket assemblieswill be adjustable toward and away from each other to take up slack inthe lower flight. Sprocket assembly 6 is driven by means of drivesprocket 18 secured to one end of shaft 7, and similarly sprocketassembly 9 is driven by drive sprocket 19 secured to the correspondingend of shaft 10. A preferred driving arrangement is seen in FIGURE 6wherein it will be seen that the inner side of an endless chain 20passes around drive sprocket 18 with an outside portion of the chainengaging drive sprocket 19, the chain returning around idlers 21 and 22.A second drive sprocket 23 on shaft 7 is connected by chain 24 to thedrive shaft of a prime mover 25. With this arrangement, it will beevident that the sprocket assemblies 6 and 9 will be rotated in timedrelation and yet in opposite directions.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, a lower spray assembly 26 is mountedbeneath the upper flight 3a of the lower conveyor in the area comprisingthe washing station; and similarly an upper spray assembly 27 is mountedbetween the flights of the upper conveyor. It will be understood thateach of the spray assemblies will comprise a plurality of spray nozzlesarranged to direct sprays or jets of washing solution upwardly ordownwardly, as the case may be, through the conveyors for contact withthe containers. For purposes of illustration, the lower spray assemblymay comprise the type disclosed in the aforementioned co-pendingapplication wherein the individual spray nozzles are formed in elongatedtubular members 28 connected at their opposite ends to headers 29 and30. The tubular members 28 may be conveniently formed by joiningtogether the legs of two right angle metallic strips in edge abuttingrelation. The nozzles themselves are formed by milling or otherwisecutting a series of narrow transverse slots 31 through one edge of thetubular members. Nozzles formed in this manner produce thin fanshapedsprays oriented transversely of the path of travel of the containers,the thin transverse nature of the sprays being indicated at 32 in FIGURE4, whereas their fanshaped character has been indicated at 33 in FIGURE5. It Will be understood that washing solution under pressure will beintroduced into the header at one end of the spray assembly, such as theheader 29. The header 30 will be closed to the flow of solutiontherethrough during normal operation of the spray assemblies; althoughin accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned application, theheader 30 is provided with drain conduits which may be opened when it isdesired to flush the assembly.

Preferably the spray assembly 27 will be composed of a plurality oftubular members 34 extending transversely of the conveyor, the oppositeends of the tubular members 34 being connected to headers 35 and 36, asseen in FIG- URE 3, the headers in turn being suspended from theadjustable mounting bracket 8, as by means of arms 37 and 38, therebymounting the spray assembly 27 for movement with the upper conveyor andalso facilitating its cleaning. The tubular members 34 will mount spraynozzles 39 which, preferably, will also produce transversely disposedfan-shaped sprays, although particularly in the case of the upper sprayassembly, the nozzles may be spaced apart by a substantially greaterdistance and may produce other spray patterns, such as a conical spraypattern. It is to be understood that various forms of spray nozzles andassemblies may be employed, the paramount consideration being to providespaced series of sprays which will impinge on the containers in adirection generally parallel to their longitudinal axes, with the lowersprays effectively serving to lift the containers into contact with theupper conveyor for movement therewith.

In the operation of the apparatus, the upper conveyor 5 will be adjustedrelative to the height of the containers being cleaned so that its lowerflight 5a will be spaced upwardly from the uppermost ends of thecontainers, preferably on the order of one-eighth to one-quarter of aninch. Such spacing assures that the containers will not be physicallyengaged or clamped between the upper and lower conveyors. At the sametime, the distance should be suflieiently small so that the containerswill not tip to the extent that they will topple over. The sprays willbe operated at a relatively high pressure as compared to the operationof comparable sprays in apparatus embodying the hydrostatic hold-downprinciple. For example, spray pressures on the order of 35 pounds persquare inch have been found to be highly satisfactory; whereas where thesprays are utilized to effect hydrostatic hold-down, spray pressures of17-18 pounds per square inch have been preferred. The pressure ormagnitude of the underlying sprays will be suflicient to overcome theforce of the overhead sprays so as to cause the containers to rise andbe held against the overlying conveyor. This action is illustrated inFIGURES 4 and 5 wherein it will be seen that the containers 2a, 2b and20 have been lifted by the lower sprays so that their uppermost bottomends are seated against the lower flight 5a of the upper conveyor. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention the adjoining spray nozzles in thelower spray assembly 26 will be on centers of 2 inches or less, with thenozzles in adjacent rows in interdigitating relationship, therebyassuring that the containers will at all times be under the influence ofa plurality of the sprays as they advance through the washing station.In the upper spray assembly 27 the nozzles may be similarly spaced orthey may be on much wider centers, such as 6 inches. Once the containershave been elevated into contact With the upper conveyor, they willpreferably remain in contact therewith throughout the length of thespray assembly, returning into contact with the lower conveyor only upontheir passage beyond the trailing sprays. However, some back and forthmovement may be tolerated, depending upon the particular containersbeing cleaned. Thus, the number of spray nozzles, their positioning, andthe magnitude of their sprays may be varied depending upon theconditions of use, the basic prerequisite being the provision ofcoacting sets of sprays so arranged that the containers will bemaintained in contact with one or the other of the conveyors so as to beadvanced thereby without undue oscillation which would cause physicaldamage to the containers as they contact one or the other of theconveyors.

While the use of an overlying conveyor has been described only inconjunction with the initial washing station, it will be understood thatsuch arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with succeeding washingor rinsing stations, if required, although it has been found in mostinstallations that unusually high pressures are not required forsubsequent rinsing and washing operations. Where overlying conveyors areemployed at a plurality of the stations, they may be jointly orseparately driven, in the latter case by separate motors havingsynchronized speed controls.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the inventionwithout departing from its spirit and purpose. Various modificationshave already been suggested, and others will undoubtedly have occurredto the skilled worker in the art upon reading the specification, andconsequently it is not intended that the invention be limited in anymanner other than as set forth in the claims which follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an ex elusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a machine for cleaning lightweight fragile container-s wherein thecontainers are subjected to a series of spray washing and rinsingoperations, a lower conveyor having an upper flight on which thecontainers are placed for movement through the machine, a secondconveyor overlying said first conveyor and having a lower flight movingin timed relation to said first conveyor, the lower flight of saidsecond conveyor being spaced upwardly from the uppermost ends of thecontainers by a short distance so as to normally be free from contacttherewith, whereby when the containers are seated on the first conveyorthey will be out of contact with said second conveyor, said conveyorseach being of perforate character so that sprays of washing and rinsingsolution may pass therethrough, a set of spray nozzles lying beneath theupper flight of said first conveyor and positioned to direct sprays ofsolution upwardly through the overlying conveyor flight for contact withthe containers being cleaned, said set of spray nozzles being arrangedso as to maintain spray contact with the containers as they pass overthe said set of spray nozzles, the sprays acting to lift the containersfrom the upper flight of the first conveyor and cause their uppermostends to contact the lower flight of said second conveyor, whereby thecontainers are maintained in contact with said second conveyor andadvance thereby While under the influence of said spray nozzles.

2. The cleaning machine claimed in claim 1 including a second set ofspray nozzles overlying the lower flight of said second conveyor andpositioned to direct sprays of solution downwardly therethrough forcontact with the underlying containers.

3. The cleaning machine claimed in claim 2 wherein said sets of spraynozzles are configured to provide thin fan-shaped sprays extendingtransversely with respect to the direction of movement of saidconveyors, and wherein adjoining spray nozzles are staggered so as tocontact the containers in interdigitating relation.

4. The cleaning machine claimed in claim 3 including means mounting saidsecond conveyor for vertical movement relative to said first conveyor,whereby the distance between the uppermost ends of the containers andthe lower flight of the second conveyor may be adjusted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,845 3/1914Goss et al. 134-72 1,605,537 11/1926 Gay 134l27 1,987,231 1/1935 Engel134l27 2,331,164- 10/1943 Berger et al. 134--l27 2,622,608 12/1952 Mooreet a1. 134170 X 2,655,162 10/1953 Zademach et al. 134-129 X 2,660,51311/1953 Ball l3413l X 3,190,298 6/1965 Faller et al. 134l31 X CHARLES A.WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A MACHINE FOR CLEAINIG LIGHTWEIGHT FRAGILE CONTAINERS WHEREIN THECONTAINERS ARE SUBJECTED TO A SERIES OF SPRAY WASHING AND RINSINGOPERATIONS, A LOWER CONVEYOR HAVING AN UPPER FLIGHT ON WHICH THECONTAINERS ARE PLACED FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE MACHINE, A SECONDCONVEYOR OVERLYING SAID FIRST CONVEYOR AND HAVING A LOWER FLIGHT MOVINGIN TIMED RELATION TO SAID FIRST CONVEYOR, THE LOWER FILGHT TO SAIDSECOND CONVEYOR BEING SPACED UPWARDLY FROM THE UPPERMOST ENDS OF THECONTAINERS BY A SHORT DISTANCE SO AS TO NORMALLY BE FREE FROM CONTACTTHEREWITH, WHEREBY WHEN THE CONTAINERS ARE SEATED ON THE FIRST CONVEYORTHEY WILL BE OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND CONVEYOR, SAID CONVEYORSEACH BEING OF PERFORATE CHARACTER SO THAT SPRAYS OF WASHING AND RINSINGSOLUTION MAY PASS THERETHROUGH, A SET OF SPRAY NOZZLES LYING BENEATH THEUPPER FLIGHT OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR AND POSITIONED TO DIRECT SPRAYS OFSOLUTION UPWARDLY THROUGH THE OVERLYING CONVEYOR FLIGHT FOR CONTACT WITHTHE CONTAINERS BEING CLEANED, SAID SET OF SPRAY NOZZLES BEING ARRANGEDSO AS TO MAINTAIN SPRAY CONTACT WITH THE CONTAINERS AS THEY PASS OVERTHE SAID SET OF SPRAY NOZZLES, THE SPRAYS ACTING TO LIFT THE CONTAINERSFROM THE UPPER FLIGHT OF THE FIRST CONVEYOR AND CAUSE THEIR UPPERMOSTENDS TO CONTACT THE LOWER FLIGHT OF SAID SECOND CONVEYOR, WHEREBY THECONTAINERS ARE MAINTAINED IN CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND CONVEYOR ANDADVANCE THEREBY WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID SPRAY NOZZLES.